Speaking about the album, Mills appeared optimistic. He said: “Right now, we’re at the point where you’re deep in the forest and all you see is trees, but we have a great feeling about the record and are very excited about hearing it as a finished whole.”

While taking a break from recording, the band made an impromptu appearance at the Land Aid festival in downtown Athens. It was their first live appearance in their home town in eight years.

In other R.E.M news, the band, as well as Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins vocalist Billy Corgan and Stone Temple Pilots, all contribute live tracks to a forthcoming charity compilation released tomorrow (October 31) by Atlanta radio station WNNX-FM.

The tracks were recorded at various Atlanta locations, and were originally broadcast by the station. Money raised will go to charities picked by Stipe, and photographs taken by the frontman will appear on a CD-Rom which accompanies the release.